Conroe mayor seeks to end street crimes

Residents have expressed concern on prostitution, illegal drugs

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, June 24, 2004

Conroe Mayor Tommy Metcalf has some advice for prostitutes and drug dealers engaged in the oldest and second-oldest professions in his city: get out of town within 30 days or else.

"I'd just as soon they all get out of town; just leave and go some place else to ply their trade," Metcalf said. "It's time to get this stuff off our streets, so we're coming up with a plan to do just that."

Metcalf has already held two meetings with the police department to map out strategies under which the crackdown will take place.

The problem is particularly acute in the city's southeast side, principally in the area of Dugan, and Metcalf is promising to focus there first.

"I've been told you can see this activity taking place right on the street during the day and that's outrageous," he said.

"We're going to put a stop to that."

Metcalf's push for a citywide crackdown began forming as the newly-elected mayor was attending a series of town meetings hosted by the police department.

Primary concerns

Topping concerns of most residents were threats posed by the streetside drug dealing, prostitution and high-speed traffic through neighborhoods, according to both Metcalf and Conroe Police Chief
Charles Ray
.

"We're doing something about the traffic, and now we are going to go after the drug dealers and prostitutes," Metcalf said.

"It's something we are going to get down, and I don't see a problem with telling people that.

"We have to protect our children from this," Metcalf said.

Metcalf said he did not wish to talk about the crackdown in generalities, opting instead to wait until Ray has put together a comprehensive plan.

"I've had two meetings with the chief and he tells me he plans to have something for us to look at (this week)," Metcalf said. Like Metcalf, Ray did not want to speak about specifics at this point, but he said he supports Metcalf's motives.

"I think the mayor has a clear vision as to what he sees as threats to the residents, and all of us in law enforcement support the direction he wants to take in combating this problem," Ray said. "We are fortunate to have this kind of support in taking crime off our streets."

Recent incidents

In recent weeks, Conroe police have staged a number of raids and placed a number of individuals under arrest for streetside drug dealing and prostitution. More than eight people were jailed in one prostitution sting.

Ray said the department is taking the things it has learned in the town hall meetings with residents and prioritizing them to meet those concerns.

"We are getting a lot of help from residents, and we are gearing ourselves to meet the concerns they've expressed to us that they have," Ray said.